Indoor Thermal Comfort Assessment for Residential Buildings in an Arid Climate

Indoor thermal comfort is critical for the well-being and efficiency of inhabitants. In this period of climate change and global warming, the hot-dry environment with its extraordinarily high temperatures and strong solar radiation is growing hotter and drier. A household’s energy consumption is determined not only by the operation of the building’s heating and cooling systems but also by the occupants’ lifestyle. The indoor thermal characteristics in a residential building in New Minia, Egypt, were assessed using IDA-Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA-ICE) simulation software to better understand the optimal circumstances for residents in this hot-arid climate. The findings indicate that residential structures do not provide ideal thermal comfort, and occupants employ active systems to improve interior thermal comfort, resulting in an increase in energy consumption.